• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

flexwatt heat tape?

A

amayon

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how does this stuff work, can anyone explain it better please?
I have 4 sterilite bins stacked right now, because im not set up for a rack yet. I dont want to ruin them for future use by sticking a stupid UTH on them. I just talked to someone who said I can use flexwatt and just zigzag it around the short ends of each, in serpentine pattern, for a temp measure. this sounds great but beyond that im not sure how this stuff works. how to i hook it up? what is a good reliable well made brand or model of thermostat for it? Any reasons I cannot use flexwatt for this? the bins are also in my closet, on top of cardboard boxes. closed space + cardboard= fire hazard? or should i be ok? thank you in advance for the help
 
... The Flexwatt heat tape uses a semi-conductive carbon film as the heating element, which I believe is actually printed onto the plastic panel. When power is applied to the Flexwatt the resistance of the carbon film causes the panel to heat up. This is the same as your burners on your electric stove except the resistive load are nichrome wires not a carbon film. This isn't the most technical explanation but I hope it gets the idea across.

... I can't/won't comment on the use of flexwatt in a closet with cardboard etc. other than, if properly setup and controlled with a thermostat it shouldn't get above your set point (of maybe 88 to 98 F). I would make the setup as fire safe as possible. I have had flexwatt heating in plastic racks and cages for years without problems, all controlled with thermostats. You need to be the final judge if the setup is fire safe or not.

... Here is a link to a discussion about thermostats.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.phpp=296766#post296766

... Clay Davenport's website shows you how to wire flexwatt heat tape;

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/flexwire.shtml


I hope I answered some of your questions. Good luck with your heating endeavor.
 
You should be able to use the flexwatt heat tape like you want to just get a good themostat and overheating shouldnt be a problem. If you are looking to expand into a rack system later then dont skimp on the thermostat and you can reuse it when you build your rack.
 
Whoops forgot to say that I have a helix themostat and it has never been a problem.
 
Safety First

As safe as flexwatt and a thermostat should be I would not put the flexwatt on cardboard especially in a closet. If the thermostat happens to be faulty you would have yourself a possible fire. Chances are slim but it is there. I am always extra cautious. But I am sure you already knew of the possibility of a fire hazard and just needed reasurance.
 
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